Taylor Farms has pulled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico off the U.S. market amid a widening multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis tied to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell locations.
Health officials are actively investigating the outbreak, which has spread to more than 30 states and sickened thousands of people this summer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies cyclosporiasis as a parasitic illness caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic organism that travels through contaminated food or water. Taylor Farms, which supplies iceberg lettuce to Taco Bell, announced the voluntary withdrawal on Friday, July 17, as federal and state investigators work to pinpoint the exact source of contamination.
Outbreak Scope and Symptoms
As of Friday, July 17, confirmed and suspected cases number in the thousands nationwide, with Michigan and several other Midwestern states reporting the highest concentrations. No deaths have been attributed to the outbreak. Symptoms generally emerge anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure and can include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, bloating, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
Officials advise thorough handwashing before food preparation and rinsing fresh produce before consumption, though experts note that washing alone may not fully eliminate the parasite.
Taylor Farms Acts, Issues Statement
Taylor Farms described its market withdrawal as a precautionary measure, stressing that FDA traceability work has pointed toward a single independent farm that accounts for less than one percent of the country’s iceberg lettuce supply. The company stated that no other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the U.S. are affected by the action.
“While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm, which represents less than 1% of the U.S.’s iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source of the outbreak, we have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely,” the company said. “No other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the country are impacted.”
Consumers who may have purchased affected iceberg lettuce products are urged to discard them or return them to the point of purchase. The investigation by federal and state health authorities remains ongoing.
